Man struck by bullet fragments when gun accidentally fires

Large pieces of metal lodged in a Wichita man’s face, torso and wrist after a bullet he accidentally fired from a 40-caliber handgun struck and shattered the door of the gun safe used to store the weapon, police say.

The accident happened about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 4900 block of West Douglas.

Wichita police Lt. Doug Nolte said the man, 64, was removing the handgun from the safe when it discharged. The round struck the safe, fragmenting both the door and the bullet, Nolte said. At least three large pieces of metal and several smaller shards struck the man’s face and upper body; at least one piece wedged in the man’s left wrist, Nolte said.

The man was initially being transported by a private vehicle, a Sedgwick County dispatcher said Tuesday. But the driver stopped in Star Lumber’s parking lot, 325 S. West St., to call an ambulance shortly before 10 a.m. The man was then taken to Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis, the dispatcher said.

Help us deliver journalism that makes a difference in our community.

Our journalism takes a lot of time, effort, and hard work to produce. If you read and enjoy our journalism, please consider subscribing today.